Hi, folks.

It's been over three years since I started this petition and you all graciously took the time to sign and share it. I am very happy to announce that the Pasadena Unified School District has officially changed the name of Andrew Jackson Elementary in Altadena to Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary.

This petition catalyzed an official movement to change the school's name led by faculty, staff, parents, and, most importantly, the students of Jackson. They held town halls, debated alternative naming options that would also represent the school well, and ultimately democratically arrived at Mary W. Jackson as suggested by this petition. The popular support of this petition undoubtedly had an effect on PUSD's decision to approve the formal request to change the school's name made by the administration with the blessing of the parent-teacher association and the students.

With this small change, the community has chosen to venerate a remarkable Black woman whose character, career, and contributions to science and mathematics can inspire students to follow their passion no matter the obstacles that stand in their way. This victory signals that a community can come together and make decisions about how it wants to represent itself to its neighbors, its children, and its posterity. 

Thank you all for your efforts in getting this done! This is a namesake we can all be proud of. Next time you hear someone say their kid goes to Jackson, you'll know they mean Mary W.!

-Nick